When to Use NoSQL vs SQL: The Ultimate Guide for Choosing a Database
There was a time when SQL databases were the de-facto choice when developing a new application. In recent years, NoSQL databases have become a popular alternative.
Choosing between a SQL vs NoSQL database is now an important technological decision for back-end developers, and recognizing when to use one over the other is an important skill to have. Beyond that, the choice of which type of database to use can determine whether a project will run smoothly or experience technical difficulties as it grows.
In this article, we’ll explore the differentiating factors between the two database types and when one outperforms the other. We’ll see that a key factor in making a decision is being able to recognize the type of data that your application has to handle and then using that to determine which technology is best suited for your situation.
First, we’ll need to quickly explore the technical principles behind the two classes of databases so we can recognize what sets them apart to inform our future decisions.
Table Of Contents
What are SQL Databases?
SQL databases are the older and more widely used of the two data storage systems. Examples of the most popular SQL databases include:
- MySQL
- PostgreSQL
- Microsoft SQL Server
- Oracle
- MariaDB
SQL databases are classified as relational databases which follow the relational model proposed by E. F. Codd in 1970. The relational model introduced the idea of organizing data as tuples, also known as rows, that are grouped into relations, also known as tables.
